240 Obituary — Frederick James Mockler. 



FREDERICK JAMES MOCKLER. 



Frederick James Mockler died on March 12, 1913, aged 68. After 

 a varied career, in which he became best known, perliaps, as an 

 authority on Baxter Prints, Mr. Mockler was appointed curator of 

 the Holburne Museum, Bath, a post which he was obliged to vacate 

 some ten years ago on account of ill-health. Up to this time he had 

 become acquainted with geological matters by handling material of 

 Charles Moore's collecting, and by gathering and washing Faringdon 

 Sponge Gravel for the use of E. C. Davey in his work on the fossils 

 contained in that deposit. 



It was not, however, until his employment for preparation-work 

 in the Geological Department of the British Museum that he found 

 scope for the exercise of the skill, amounting to genius, witli which 

 he resolved intractable sediments into a paste from which the 

 particles of clay could be washed, and extracted thence organisms 

 of extreme minuteness and delicacy ; taking a genuine pleasure in the 

 labour involved in picking over the residues grain by grain and 

 separating the fossils from the inorganic particles. It is too soon to be 

 possible to estimate the value to science of his labours ; this will be 

 fully appreciated by those who in future work out the Museum 

 collections of Foraminifera, Polyzoa, Echinoderras, etc., with tlie 

 material his skill has provided. But the untiring industry and 

 humble conscientiousness with which he employed his talent declared 

 his value to those who knew liim. Science has lost in him a hard- 

 working devotee, and his colleagues a genial and warm-hearted friend. 



=^^=^=__^ W. ]). L. 



iyEISCElLI-..A.lSrEOXJS. 



Geological Survey of India. — The Secretary of State for India 

 in Council notifies that one appointment to the Indian Geological 

 Survey Department will be made in July next. A further vacancy 

 is expected to occur in the year 1914. 



International Geological Congress. — Since the preliminary notice 

 of the Session to be held in Toronto (given in the Geological 

 Magazine for September, 1912, p. 431), the dates of the meetings 

 have been fixed to commence on Thursday, August 7, and to terminate 

 on Thursday, August 14, 1913. Particulars have now been printed 

 concerning the dates of excursions, the areas to be visited and the 

 cost, accompanied by maps of the routes. (See second circular, to 

 be obtained from the Secretary, Twelfth International Geological 

 Congress, Victoria Memorial Museum, Ottawa, Canada.) 



Geological Society of London, April 9, 1913. — Mr. "William 

 Ilupert Jones (son of the late Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.E.S.), 

 who has filled the office of Assistant Librarian to the Geological 

 Society, will retire on pension after forty years' service. He was 

 a man with a remarkable knowledge and memory, and for many 

 years had prepared a valuable list of additions to tiie Society's Library, 

 which was regularly printed and circulated to the Fellows. 



